The flatulantly fluorescent Civic

Today, we have a continuation of the fluorescent wheel trend that was highlighted (pun definitely intended) in a previous post that featured a Subaru wagon sporting bright orange rims.  Today’s specimen was observed in the Costco parking lot whilst I was on my way to pick up bulk quantities of dog food for my small herd of Great Danes.  Ironically, just one day before I saw this car, I bought my pup, Pavlov a new collar in fluorescent green (it lights up for nighttime walking even), so it seems this fluorescent trend is seeping into my own aesthetic preferences.  It’s okay for Pavlov; he can rock that look.  Check out his photo.  Even if you think he can’t pull it off, do you really want to disagree with a dog who has chompers like that?  However, if I ever start posting about plans to paint my own car’s rims fluorescent anything, please, somebody, stage an intervention for me.

What we have here is a 2002 (or so) Honda Civic coupe with chartreuse wheels (they are showing in the photo as a bit more yellow than green, but trust me, they’re a very vivid green in person).  Aside from the wheels and a sticker or two plastered on the car, the only modification I could see was the “fart pipe” exhaust that so many people like to slap onto little imports to make them sound tougher than they are. 

How tough is this Honda?  You may recall a much earlier post that involved a certain 1998 Honda Civic sedan I borrowed for a late night jaunt to fetch some car keys that had managed to abscond out of state.  That Civic featured a 1.6L 4 cylinder engine.  4 years later, and we’re looking at this Civic, which has a 1.7L 4 cylinder engine that makes 115 HP and 110 lb ft of torque.  That’s a 9 HP and 7 lb feet of torque gain over the 1.6L engine’s stats.  Still not much to brag about, but you know, adding that big silly exhaust tip at least makes the car sound like it’s got some power to it… and that’s certainly something the owner of this Honda is proud of.  You can’t see it too well in the photo, but the sticker on the passenger side of the rear bumper says something like “My Vtec goes Bwaaaaaah!”, which is true with a muffler like that. 

Ah, but what’s a Vtec?  All you know-it-alls who have this covered already, pipe down, because this is a learning experience for those not in the know.  By the time they’re done reading this, they’ll be enlightened and we can all bask in the glory of Variable Valve Timing.  In fact, Vtec is a system Honda developed (and lots of car makers use it) that improves performance and efficiency by electronically controlling and adjusting the intake and exhaust valves (the valves that let the car inhale air and exhale exhaust) to keep the engine breathing at optimal levels as the pistons pump up and down in the cylinders at various RPMs. 

If you’ve ever done Yoga, you know that it’s important when and how you inhale and exhale  to improve how you feel and what you get out of the time you’ve spent sitting around in yoga pants in a hot room where you know somebody nearby is going to inadvertently fart during one of those awkward poses they make you do.  Well, just as air comes in and air goes out (both ends, sometimes in yoga) the air and fuel that burst in little explosions to power your car has to get sucked in and pushed out too.  It’s best for all involved if this inhaling and exhaling is timed just right.  So, think of this little Honda with its fart pipe exhaust as the cutesy little gal in yoga class who knows how to control her breathing like the instructor says to do, but comes to class with a case of the vapors.  Just try not to be down wind from her during folded leaf pose.